By Wayne Ward
I recently did some research to find things in the bible that are ridiculous and absurd. The lists by no means include all the ignorant things in the bible; these are just the more obvious ones.
According to the bible, God claims to have created the universe (Genesis 1:1). As the creator he should have perfect knowledge of every intricate detail, and his understanding should be flawless. Yet this God is amazingly ignorant of what he supposedly created. The following lists include absurd ideas from the bible, supposedly God’s word.
Mistakes in Astronomy
The sky is a solid canopy called a firmament” (Genesis 1:6-8). The moon is a source of light, like the sun (Genesis 1:16). The earth experienced day and night before the sun existed (Genesis 1:4-5, 14). A day can be lengthened by making the sun stand still (Joshua 10:12-13). The celestial firmament is so close to the earth that people could erect a tower that would reach to the stars (Genesis 11:4) Stars can fall to the earth without destroying it (Revelation 6:13). A star could pinpoint an exact location on earth (Matthew 2:9).
Mistakes in Earth Science
The earth is a rectangular-shaped object (Ezekiel 7:2, Revelation 7:1). There is enough water in the atmosphere that if it all fell to the earth as rain, it could raise the sea level more than 6 miles (Genesis 7:19-20). The earth rests upon foundations (Isaiah 51:13,16, Psalm 104:5). Rain falls out of the sky through windows (Genesis 7:11). The earth has ends (Proverbs 30:4, Jeremiah 16:19). Salt can lose its taste (Matthew 5:13). There could be a wind powerful enough to part the Red Sea, while allowing pedestrians to walk against it (Exodus 14:21-22). There is a mountaintop from which one could view the entire surface of the earth (Luke 4:5).
Mistakes in Biology
Plants can grow and produce fruit without sunlight (Genesis 1:11). Man was the first living organism to inhabit the earth (Genesis 2:7). Adam could have mated with any species of animal (Genesis 2:20). Snakes are legless because one of them caused Eve to sin (Genesis 3:14). Locusts, grasshoppers, and beetles are good for food, but pork is not (Leviticus 11:7,22). Hares chew the cud, like cows (Leviticus 11:6). Bats are birds (Leviticus 11:13, 19). Honoring your parents is the key to long life (Exodus 20:12). Mental illness is caused by devils (Luke 8:27-30). A virgin can be impregnated by a ghost, and remain a virgin (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1 :35). Christians can drink poison and suffer no ill effects (Mark 16:18). Joseph had two biological fathers (Matthew 1:16, Luke 3:23). The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds (Matthew 13:32). Insects have 4 legs (Leviticus 11:21-23). When a seed is planted, it must die before it can sprout (1 Corinthians 15:36). The human mind is in the heart (Proverbs 23:7). All animal reproduction requires a male and a female (Genesis 6:19). People and animals can live and remain healthy for 6 months inside a sealed vessel that has no ventilation (Genesis 7:11-8:5). The vast genetic diversity in humankind was derived from one individual (Genesis 2). Women suffer pain during childbirth because their most distant ancestor ate a piece of fruit (Genesis 3:16). A man can live for 72 hours inside the digestive tract of a whale (Matthew 12:40). Animals can repent of their sins (Jonah 3:8). The earth can sustain a population of 10 septillion people (Exodus 32:13, Hebrews 11:12). Humans are either male or female; thus hermaphrodites don’t exist (Genesis 1:27). Unicorns really do exist (Deuteronomy 33:17). If livestock copulate while looking at streaked rods, their offspring will be streaked (Genesis 30:37-39). A cow can be killed repeatedly (Exodus 9:6, 9:19-20, 12:29). When horses die, they don’t remain dead (Exodus 9:3-6, 14:9). A man can live for 40 days without drinking any water (Exodus 34:28). It is possible for a man to be older than his father (2 Chronicles 21:20, 22:2). Some infants can talk the moment they are born (Psalm 58:3). Snails melt as they crawl along (Psalm 58:8). Some snakes can fly (Isaiah 14:29, 30:6). Dragons really do exist (Deuteronomy 32:33, Jeremiah 51:37). Castration is a good thing to have done to yourself (Matthew 19:12). Christians can heal the sick by touching them (Mark 16:18). Christians cannot be hurt by snakes or scorpions (Luke 10:19) Every kind of animal has been tamed by humankind (James 3:7). Circumcision can be undone (1 Corinthians 7:18).
Mistakes in Math
The value of pi is exactly 3 (1 Kings 7:23). A vessel measuring 450 feet x 75 feet x 45 feet is large enough to contain a pair of every species of animal (and 7 of each “clean” species) plus enough food to sustain them for a year (Genesis 6:15,19,21). From late Friday afternoon til dawn on Sunday morning is 3 days and 3 nights (Matthew 12:40).
Do we really want the bible taught in our public schools?
All scripture notations refer to the King James Version of the bible.
Wayne Ward is a Foundation member from Alabama.
